One of the great rebels of psychiatry, R. D. Laing challenged
prevailing models of madness and the nature and limits of
psychiatric authority. In this brief and lucid book, Laing's widely
praised biographer distills the essence of Laing's vision, which
was religious and philosophical as well as psychological.
The Crucible of Experience reveals Laing's philosophical debts
to existentialism and phenomenology in his theories of madness and
sanity, family theory and family therapy. Daniel Burston offers the
first detailed account of Laing's practice as a therapist and of
his relationships -- often contentious -- with his friends and
sometime disciples. Burston carefully differentiates between Laing
and "Laingians", who were often clearer, more confident, and more
simplistic than their teacher.
While he examines Laing's theories of madness, Burston focuses
most provocatively on Laing's views of sanity and normality and on
his recognition, toward the end of his life, of the essential place
of holiness in human experience. In a powerful last chapter,
Burston shows that Laing foresaw the present commercialization of
medicine and asked pointed questions about what the meaning of
sanity and the future of psychotherapy in such a world could be. In
this, as in other matters, Laing's questions of a generation ago
remain questions for our time. At once critical and sympathetic,
Burston wrestles with many of the latent contradictions in Laing's
work that have gone unnoticed until now.
General
Is the information for this product incomplete, wrong or inappropriate?
Let us know about it.
Does this product have an incorrect or missing image?
Send us a new image.
Is this product missing categories?
Add more categories.
Review This Product
No reviews yet - be the first to create one!
Welcome to Loot.co.za!
Sign in / Register |Wishlists & Gift Vouchers |Help | Advanced search
